ST. PAUL, MN — Minnesota will test a new kindergarten assessment this fall at 70 schools across 45 districts and charter schools, including Anoka-Hennepin, Minneapolis, Osseo, Lakeville, Eden Prairie, Mounds View and West Saint Paul-Mendota Heights-Eagan among the metro participants.
The Minnesota Kindergarten Fall Assessment ditches a traditional sit-down test, instead having teachers observe students during everyday classroom moments like play, conversation, and problem-solving.
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State officials say the pilot will shape training and rollout before every Minnesota kindergartner takes the assessment starting fall 2027. Early Learning Director Danielle Hayden said the goal is building daily instruction around what each child already does well rather than testing gaps.
Full list of participating districts and charter schools:
Districts
- Alexandria Public School District
- Anoka-Hennepin Public Schools
- Bird Island-Olivia-Lake Lillian Public School District
- Buffalo Lake-Hector-Stewart Public Schools
- Duluth Public Schools
- Eastern Carver County Public Schools
- Eden Prairie Public School District
- Faribault Public School District
- Fergus Falls Public School District
- Glencoe-Silver Lake School District
- Hayfield Public School District
- Hill City Public School District
- Janesville-Waldorf-Pemberton Public School District
- Kelliher Public School District
- Kittson Central School District
- Lakeville Area Schools
- Martin County West School District
- Minneapolis Public School District
- Moorhead Area Public School District
- Mounds View Public School District
- Northland Community Schools
- Osseo Public School District
- Owatonna Public Schools
- Pine City Public School District
- Pine Island Public School District
- Proctor Public School District
- RTR Public Schools
- Sleepy Eye Public School District
- Tri-City United School District
- Triton School District
- Underwood Public School District
- Waconia Public School District
- Waubun-Ogema-White Earth Schools
- West Saint Paul-Mendota Heights-Eagan Area Schools
Charter Schools
- Aspen Academy
- Cornerstone Montessori Elementary
- FIT Academy
- Global Academy
- Harvest Best Academy
- Hmong College Prep Academy
- Hope Community Academy
- Kaleidoscope Charter School
- Minnesota State Academies
- Oak Hill Montessori Community School
- Swan River Montessori Charter School